Phytoglycogen Encapsulation of Lanthanide‐Based Nanoparticles as an Optical Imaging Platform with Therapeutic Potential

Abstract

Lanthanide‐based upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs) are largely sought‐after for biomedical applications ranging from bioimaging to therapy. A straightforward strategy is proposed here using the naturally sourced polymer phytoglycogen to coencapsulate UCNPs with hydrophobic photosensitizers as an optical imaging platform and light‐induced therapeutic agents. The resulting multifunctional sub‐micrometer‐sized luminescent beads are shown to be cytocompatible as carrier materials, which encourages the assessment of their potential in biomedical applications. The loading of UCNPs of various elemental compositions enables multicolor hyperspectral imaging of the UCNP‐loaded beads, endowing these materials with the potential to serve as luminescent tags for multiplexed imaging or simultaneous detection of different moieties under near‐infrared (NIR) excitation. Coencapsulation of UCNPs and Rose Bengal opens the door for potential application of these microcarriers for collagen crosslinking. Alternatively, coloading UCNPs with Chlorin e6 enables NIR‐light triggered generation of reactive oxygen species. Overall, the developed encapsulation methodology offers a straightforward and noncytotoxic strategy yielding water‐dispersible UCNPs while preserving their bright and color‐tunable upconversion emission that would allow them to fulfill their potential as multifunctional platforms for biomedical applications.

Chitosan-coated halloysite nanotube magnetic microspheres for carcinogenic colorectal hemorrhage and liver laceration in albino rats

“…40 Table 2 shows the optical microscopic image of the microspheres dispersed in distilled water. 41 These results indicated the morphological and size changes before milling of microspheres, i.e., 190.5 mm of MHCMG7, while aer milling, the size of microspheres reduced to about 84 mm. °C of all the formulations was observed due to presence of water molecules in the compositions.…”

Tuning the Phytoglycogen Size and Aggregate Structure with Solvent Quality: Influence of Water–Ethanol Mixtures Revealed by X-ray and Light Scattering Techniques

“…10 6 to 10 7 Da . Because of its role as a glucose storage molecule, the upper molecular weight of glycogen is optimized for enzymatic access. , These properties imbue PG with a globular shape, with a hydrodynamic diameter between 20 and 25 nm, ,, which, together with its soft colloidal character, have motivated recent studies to employ it as an optical probe, a drug delivery vehicle, , a solubilizer, − and a lubricant …”

“…13 Because of its role as a glucose storage molecule, the upper molecular weight of glycogen is optimized for enzymatic access. 14,15 These properties imbue PG with a globular shape, with a hydrodynamic diameter between 20 and 25 nm, 13,16,17 which, together with its soft colloidal character, have motivated recent studies to employ it as an optical probe, 18 a drug delivery vehicle, 19,20 a solubilizer, 21−24 and a lubricant. 25 Although glycogen and PG have been the subject of smallangle neutron scattering (SANS) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) studies that have elucidated its properties in water, 26−28 PG aggregation behavior in poor solvent conditions has not been investigated with small-angle scattering techniques.…”

Dual-Site Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Route of Upconversion Nanoparticles-Based Brain-Targeted Nanotheranostic Boosts the Near-Infrared Phototherapy of Glioma

“…Upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)-based near-infrared (NIR) phototherapy is a photoenergy utilization option that could convert long-wavelength excitation to short-wavelength emission. 17− 19 The merit not only dramatically improves the penetration of theranostic across the skull but also triggers the downstream photosensitizers (PSs) for PDT via Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET), 20−22 showing massive promise in brain-targeted and safe GBM therapy. The commonly used UCNPs were erbium (Er)-or thulium (Tm)-doped UCNPs.…”

“…Upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)-based near-infrared (NIR) phototherapy is a photoenergy utilization option that could convert long-wavelength excitation to short-wavelength emission. − The merit not only dramatically improves the penetration of theranostic across the skull but also triggers the downstream photosensitizers (PSs) for PDT via Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET), − showing massive promise in brain-targeted and safe GBM therapy. The commonly used UCNPs were erbium (Er)- or thulium (Tm)-doped UCNPs. − Porphyrin derivatives are the common photosensitizers, such as the frequently used Chlorin e6 (Ce6) and hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD). − Some representative FRET pairs have been established based on the UCNP donor and porphyrin derivative acceptor. − Most were single-site FRET modes that transferred from the emission around 545 or 660 nm in Er-doping UCNPs to photosensitizers.…”